Automobile or other vehicle.



PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

E. CLIFF.

AUTOMOBILE OR OTHER VEHICLE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED DEC. 21, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- INVENTOR. Edward 010? No. 792,649. 7 PATENTED JUNE 20,1905.

E. CLIFF.

AUTOMOBILE OR OTHER VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 21, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

No. 792,649. PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

- E. CLIFF.

AUTOMOBILE OR OTHER VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR No. 792,649. PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905;

E. CLIFF.

AUTOMOBILE OR OTHER VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21, 1904.

4 sums-sum 4.

law,

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June Q0, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD CLIFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMOBILE OR OTHER VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,649, dated June 20,1905.

Application filed December 21, 1904:. Serial No. 237,751.

1'0 all whomit may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD CLIFF, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobilesor other Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. I

The invention relates to improvements in automobiles and other vehicles;and it consists in the novel features, arrangements, and combinations ofparts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Among the objects of my invention are to provide an easy-riding vehicle,to dispense with the usual inflated tires on the wheels of automobiles,to provide for the supporting of the body of the vehicle from the axleson a combination of coiled and elliptic or semielliptic springs wherebyto obtain a novel joint action of said springs in supporting andrelieving the said body from shock or jar, and to provide a novelconstruction of the wheels andaxles whereby the ends of the axle may bespring-supported within the hubs of the wheels, with the body of thevehicle mounted upon the axles intermediate the springs confined withinthe wheel-hubs, the spring-casings within the hubs of the wheel beingstationary, sofar as rotation is concerned, and affording a fixedbearing around which the wheels may always rotate upon fixed axialcenters.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention I provide thesupporting-wheels with hollow hubs of novel construction, chamberedcasings within said hubs and affording rollerbearings for the wheels,axles having on their ends chambered casings to move within the saidcasings in said hubs and mounted upon coiled springs held therein, andleaf-springs of elliptic order upon said axles intermediate the wheelsand supporting the body of the vehicle, whereby the latter becomessupported in the preferred construction upon, at each end of the axle, aspring arrangement consisting of coiled springs and elliptic springscoacting with each other. I also provide the wheels with a solidcushion-tire and secure the same by novel means, these tires aiding inpreventing noise and .adding to the comfort of the persons riding withinthe vehicle.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed descriptionhereinafter presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away and partly insection, of a wheel constructed in accordance with and embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through one axle on the dottedline 2 2 of Fig. 5 and illustrates in side elevation a portion of one ofthe wheels. Fig. 3 is a detached side elevation showing a portion of thevehicle-body and the method of supporting the same upon the end of theelliptic spring. Fig.

4 is an end view, partly broken away and partly in section on the'dottedline t t of Fig. 3, of the means for supporting the vehiclebody upon theend of the elliptic spring. Fig. 5 is a central vertical transversesection on the dotted line 5 5 of Fig. 6 through the wheel and a portionof the axle and the elliptic spring, the wheel outside of the hubportion being partly broken away; and Fig. 6 is a horizontal section ofsame on the dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings I illustrate but one wheel of the automobile and one endof one axle, because all of the wheels of the vehicle will be exactlyalike, and therefore the invention may be fully understood fromtheillustration and description of one wheel,with its axle and springs,it being understood that each axle will be provided at each end with awheel and springs of the construction shown.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the wheel; 11, the rear axle;12, the coiled spring, 911C114: the leaf-spring, the latter being ofelliptic order. The front axle for automobiles will preferably be in twosections, as usual.

The wheel 10, comprises the felly 15, spokes 16, hollow hub 17 ,andpreferablya cushion-tire 18, the latter being secured upon the metalinner tire 19, which is retained in place by means of bolts 20 extendingthrough the same the through the felly 15. The inner metal tire or band19 is concave at its outer surface, as at 21,

Fig. 5, and at its side edges is formed with the laterally-extendingportions 22 22, in which are formed the grooves 23 23. The cushiontire18, preferably of rubber, conforms to the outer and edge surfaces of theinner metal tire or band 19, and its inner edge portions are compressedinto the grooves. 23 and clamped against the sides of the felly 15 andband 19 by means of the side clamping-plates 24, which extend entirelyaround the rim of the wheel and are fastened in place by means of bolts25. The clamping-plates 24 firmly bind the cushion-tire 18 down againstthe lat erally-extending portion of the inner tire or band 19 and enablethe ready application of the said tire 18 and its renewal at. will.

The spokes 16 will preferably be of wood,

and their inner wedge-shaped ends. engage with one another at their sideedges and tightly fit between the annular flanges 26 27, extending fromand being integral with the hollow hub 17, and the said spokes are attheir inner ends secured between the said flanges 26 27 by means of thetransverse bolts 28, which extend through both of said flanges andthrough corresponding recesses formed in the meeting edges of the innerwedge-shaped ends. of the spokes 16, as more clearly illustrated inFig. 1. The manner of securing the spokes at their inner ends to the hub17 is important in that thereby avery strong and durable wheel structureis produced, and the manner of securing the cushion tire 18, t0 the, rimof the wheel is important in that. said tire may be readily applied andrenewed and isvery firmlyheld in place.

The hollow hub 17 forms within it the charm ber 29 and is in the form ofa casting of suit able and preferably attractive outline and is normallyopen at both ends, the. outer end. of

said casting being formed with the, internally threaded flange 30,adapted to receive the threaded closing cap or plug 31, which at itsinner annular portions is formed with an an nular recess to receive theannular raceway 32 for the roller-bearings 33. The inner end of thehollow hub 17 is formed with the annular recess 34 to receive theraceway 35 for the roller-bearings 36, the bearings 33 36 beingconcentric with each other and constituting the bearings for therotation of the wheel.

Upon the inner edges of the hollow hub 17 are secured the sprocket-wheel3.7 and brakeflange 38,, this sprocket-wheel 37 and this brake-band 38not being of unusual construction, but being in the present instancesecured to the wheel by means of the bolts 28, which secure the spokesto the hub, the hub. being provided with the sleeves 39 and thebandwheel 38 being provided with the sleeves 40, through which the bolts28 pass and between which the outer portions of the sprocket-wheel 37are clamped. The central portions of the sprocket-wheel 37 andbrake-flange 38 are entirely open, so that the axle 11 and itsconnections may extend through the same.

Within the hollow hub 17 is placed the vertical casing 41, within whichis formed a cylindrical chamber 42 to receive the coiled at. its, outerend with an annular recess 44 to' spring or springs 12 andvertically-movable casing 43, the latter being in the form of aninverted cup or vertical cylinder open at its lower end and beingintegral with the axle 11, and said coiled springs being confinedbetween the base of the casing 41 and the inner upper surface of thecasing 43. The casing 41 does not rotate with the hub 17, and it is.formed receive the hardened raceway 45 for the roller or ball bearings3.3, While at the inner annular edges of the said casing is formed aflange 46,

containingan annular recess 47 to receive the hardened raceway 48, forthe roller or ball bearings 36.. The casing 41 thus affords the centralaxis for the. wheel 10., and this axis is always. a fixed quantity, saidcasing 41 always preserving its initial relation to the axial ceni terof the wheel without. regard to. any movement of the springs or axle 11.

The. casing 41 is formed at. the inner portion of its outer end withthe. vertical groove 49 and. at its inner end with the vertical guidewayor opening 50, the said groove. 49 and guideway 50 being :provided topermit. of the proper vertical movements, of the. axle 11 and to enablesaid i axle to resist any tendency of the casing 41 to rotatewith thehub of the wheel.

At the outer 5 end of the. axle 11 is provided a flange 5 1,,

. 52, as shown in Fig. 6, wherein the top. of the 5 lower section orpart of said casing 41 1s shown.

The casing 43; will be, less in depth than the depth of the chamber 42.within the casing41,

so that said casing 43. may during the travel of the vehicle be,permitted to have av proper her.

I yielding vertical movement within said cham- The upper portion of thecasing 43 is j formedwith the downwardly-extending sleeve 5.3, and the.lower portion of the casing 41 is formed with the upwardly-extendingsleeve 54, and through these sleeves 5:3 54 extends a central bolt55,which aids in guiding the easing 43 in its vertical movements, insecuring the upper and lower sections or parts of the casing 41together, and in preventing the rotation of the casing 41 with the hub17 The sleeves 53 54 furnish broad surfaces for the sides of the bolt55, and they also aid in cen- IIO tering and maintaining the springs 12,which preferably for each wheel will be two in number, as shown in Fig.5, the outer spring being somewhat heavier than the inner spring.

When the parts hereinbefore described are in position and the vehicle isin use, the load upon the axle 11 will tend to depress the latter, andthis will cause a compression of the springs 12 between the upper end ofthe casing 43 and lower end of the casing 41, and thus the vehiclebodywill be spring-supported independently of any cushioning effect whichmay be derived from the tire 18, and during the travel of the vehiclethe springs 12 will absorb the shocks and jars which otherwise might beimparted to the body of the vehicle. The casing 43 will during thetravel of the vehicle be guided in its vertical reciprocations by thecylindrical walls of the chamber 42, the surfaces of the bolt 55, theopposite walls of the groove 49, and the opposite walls of the openingor guideway 50, and it is my purpose to provide an ample body oflubricant within the said chamber 42, so that the casing 43 may at alltimes be properly lubricated. The springs 12 should have such strengththat under the normal weight of the body of the vehicle they will becomepartly compressed, which is their condition represented in Fig. 5. Undersuch load as the body of the vehicle may be compelled to carry thesprings 12 will become further compressed.

The hub construction above described, while being of that strong anddurable character required for automobiles and while affording thecoiled spring-supports for the ends of the axle and providing a fixedaxial center of rotation for the wheel, is also advantageous in that itresists any tendency of the wheel to incline in either direction. Theraceways for the ball or roller bearings are oppositely disposed-thatis, for illustration the groovein the raceway 45 opens toward the outerside of the wheel and the groove for the raceway 48 opens toward theinner side of the wheel and this feature, with the cooperatingconstruction of the other raceways 32 35, aids in preventing the tiltingof the wheel. wheel is also prevented from tilting by reason of theengagement of the casings 41 43,

the latter being centrally of the axle 11 and engaging the inner wallsof the casing 41 both above and below said axle, and, incidentally, allof the cooperating features of the hollow hub and axle connections areso arranged and disposed as to maintain the wheel vertical and at rightangles to the axle 11.

Each of the wheels of the vehicle and each end of each axle will possessthe construction above described,and without regard to any furthersprings or features the wheels and axles thus constructed constitute animportant part of my invention and may be used with or without theleaf-springs 14, which 1 will presently describe. I have discovered,however, that The special advantages may be secured from the employmentin direct connection with the axles of both the coiled springs 12 andelliptic springs 14, these springs cooperating to produce a very muchmore comfortable riding action in the body of the vehicle when both areemployed at each end of each axle than could be attained by the use ofeither of said springs alone or of either of said springs with aninflated tire. I therefore provide as a part of the preferred embodimentof my invention the leaf-spring 14 at each end of each of the axles 11,and this spring 14, comprising a suitable number of leaves, is clampedupon the axle 11 by suitable clips 56 and receives at its ends thevehicle-body 57, Fig. 3, by means of suitable bracket-hangers 58 andlinks 59, the body 57, brackets 58, and links 59 being of usualconstruction. The spring 14is provided on its upper surface with aspecial elastic or spring plate 60, which is very much less in lengththan the upper leaf of the spring and is intended for the one solepurpose of resisting the upward-rebounding movement of the spring.Elliptic springs and semi-elliptic springs are well-known features ofautomobile construction,and the breakage of these springs has been asource of very considerable expense and annoyance, and one purpose of myinvention is to provide the springs with a reactingplate 60 forpreventing the breakage of the springs, which breakage is due not somuch to the load, but to the rebound of the spring, the breakageoccurring during the rebounding movement of the spring. The plate 60 isnot a clip-plate, but extends outwardly beyond the clip-plate, and it isyielding to some extent, but its tendency is to act downwardly againstthe spring and to resist the rebounding action of the spring, the plate60 being an opposite plate and opposing the rebounding action of thespring. Before the leaves of the spring and plate 60 are clampedtogether the leaves (in the case of the semi-elliptic spring shown) bowdownwardly and the plate 60 bows upwardly,and hence when the leaves ofthe spring and the plate 60 are clamped together the plate 60 will actin opposition to the leaves, controlling and improving their action andpreventing that excessive and sudden rebounding action of the springwhich has so frequently caused the breakage of elliptic andsemi-elliptic springs. The plate 60 is not only of value in preventingthe breakage of the springs, but in retaining the springs in theiractive cushioning condition, whereby the body of the vehicle becomes andremains supported under a sensitive condition of the springs. The spring14 aside from the plate 60 and its combination with the coiledsprings,also connected with the axle 11, is not of unusualconstruction.

I present in the drawings the preferred embodiment of my entireinvention, for the reason that in addition to the advantages derivablefrom the combined spring action other advantages may be attained, due tothe location of the coiled springs within the hub of the wheel. Thecoiled springs 12 are sensitive and receive and mince up the shocks andjars due to the wheels passing over uneven surfaces, and the ellipticsprings are less sensitive, or slow and lazy, due to the friction of theleaves or plates, and they absorb such of the shocks and jars as mayreach them, and hence these two springs relieve the body of the vehicleand produce an easy riding action. The coiled springs and ellipticsprings are in near relation to each other and immediately connectedwith the axle, the elliptic springs and coiled springs both being bypreference centrally in line with the vertical plane of the axle, sothat the axle may be supported directly upon the coiled springs anddirectly support the elliptic springs, this arrangement of. the springsaffording the maximum efiioiency in their joint action. My invention isnot limited to the use of semi-elliptic springs, since bothsemi-elliptic and whole elliptic springs are in familiar use forsupporting the bodies of automobiles, and in instances in which it maybe desired to utilize my invention in vehicles requiring whole ellipticsprings I shall apply to each half of the spring the reacting plate toimprove the action of the springs and prevent their breakage duringtheir rebounding action. The springs 14 may extend transversely of thevehicle-body, but will preferably extend longitudinally of the vehicle,with their centers on the axles.

In presenting the preferred embodiment of my invention I have describeda specific tire construction and a specific elliptic-springconstruction, and I propose to make these two constructions thesubjects-matter of separate applications for Letters Patent.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. A vehicle comprising a body, axles and wheels, combined withsemi-elliptic springs extending transversely of and mounted on saidaxles and supporting said body, and coiled springs upon which said axlesare supported, said elliptic springs each having a top reactingspring-plate; substantially as set forth.

2. A vehicle comprising a body, axles and wheels, combined withleaf-springs of elliptic character mounted on said axles and supportingsaid body, and coiled springs upon which said axles are supported, saidelliptic springs each having as a part thereof areactingspringplate toresist the rebounding action of the spring; substantially as set forth.

3. In avehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs, combined with spring-cushioningmeans within said hubs for the ends of said axle, said means for eachwheel comprising a casing around which the wheel may turn and containinga vertical chamber, a part on the end of the axle and occupying theupper I part of said chamber, a coiled spring confined 4:. In a vehicle,the axle supporting the body and having wheels on its ends, said wheelshav ing hollow hubs, combined with spring-cushioning means within saidhubs for the ends of said axle, said means for each wheel comprising acasing around which the wheel may turn and containing a verticalchamber, an inverted-cup-shaped casing on the end of the axle anddisposed within said chamber, a coiled spring confined within saidchamber between said casings and receiving the load placed on the axle,and means for keeping said firstmentioned casing vertical; substantiallyas set forth.

5. In avehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs, combined with spring-cushioningmeans within said hubs for the ends of said axle, said means for eachwheel comprising a casing around which the wheel may turn and containinga vertical chamber, an inverted-cup-shaped casing on the end of the axleand disposed within said chamber, a coiled spring confined Within saidchamber between said casings and receiving the load placed on the axle,and a bolt extending vertically through said casings and spring;substantially as set forth.

6. In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs, combined with spring-cushioningmeans-within said hubs for the ends of said axle, said means for eachwheel comprising a casing around which the wheel may turn and containinga vertical chamber, an inverted-cup-Shaped casing on the end of the axleand disposed within said chamber, a coiled spring confined within saidchamber between said casings and receiving the load placed on the axle,and a bolt extending vertically through said casings and spring, saidcupshaped casing having a depending sleeve and the other casing anupwardly-extending sleeve to receive said bolt; substantially as setforth.

7 In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs, combined with springcush ioningmeans Within said hubs for the ends of said axle, said means for eachwheel comprising a casing around which the wheel may turn and containinga vertical chamber extending above and below the horizontal plane of theaxle, a part on the end of the axle and occupying the upper part of saidchamber, a coiled spring confined between said part and the base of saidchamber and receiving the load placed on the axle, and means for keepingsaid casing vertical; substantially as set forth. I

8. In avehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels hav- 'ing hollow hubs, combined with spring-cushioning means within said hubs for the ends of said axle, said means foreach wheel comprising a casing around which the wheel may turn andcontaining a vertical chamber extending aboveand below the horizontalplane of the axle, an inverted-cup-shaped casing on the end of the axleand extending above and below the same and disposed within said chamber,a coiled spring confined within said chamber between said casings andreceiving the load placed on the axle, and means for keeping saidfirst-mentioned casing vertical; substantially as set forth.

9. In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs, combined with spring-cushioningmeans within said hubs for the ends of said axle, said means for eachwheel comprising a casing around which the wheel may turn and containinga vertical chamber extending above and below the horizontal plane of theaxle, an inverted-cup-shaped casing on the end of the axle and extendingabove and below the same and disposed within said chamber, a coiledspring confined within said chamber between said casings and receivingthe load placed on the axle, and means for keeping said first-mentionedcasing vertical, said casing being formed of upper and lower sectionsbolted together and afiording a cylindrical chamber, and said cup-shapedcasing being conformed to said chamber; substantially as set forth.

10. In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs provided with raceways for thebearings, and said hubs containing hollow casings having complementalraceways for said bearings and vertical openings at their inner sidesfor the axle, combined with springcushioning means within said hubs forsaid axle, said means for each wheel comprising the said hollow casingforming within it a vertical chamber, a part on the end of the axle andoccupying the upper part of said chamber, and a coiled spring confinedbetween said part and the base of said chamber and receiving the loadplaced on the axle; substantially as set forth.

11. In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs provided with raceways for thebearings, and said hubs containing hollow casings having complementalraceways for said bearings and vertical openings at their inner sidesfor the axle, combined with springcushioning means within said hubs forsaid axle, said means for each wheel comprising the said hollow casingforming within it a vertical chamber, an inverted-cu p-shaped casing onthe end of the axle and disposed within said chamber, and a coiledspring confined within said chamber between said casings and receivingthe load placed on the axle; substantially as set forth.

12. In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs provided with raceways for thebearings, and said hubs containing hollow casings having complementalraceways for said bearings and vertical openings at their inner sidesfor the axle, combined with springcushioning means within said hubs forsaid axle, said means for each wheel comprising the said hollow casingforming within it a vertical chamber, an inverted-cup-shaped casing onthe end of the axle disposed within said chamber, and a coiled springconfined within said chamber between said casings and receiving the loadplaced on the axle, said casings at their outer meeting faces beingrespectively provided with the vertical flange and groove; substantiallyas set forth.

13. In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs, combined with springcushioningmeans within said hubs for the ends of said axle, said means for eachwheel comprising a casing around which the wheel may turn andcontaininga vertical cylindrical chamber, an inverted-cup-shaped casingon the axle fitting within and adapted to guide on the walls of saidchamber, a coiled spring confined at its ends between said casings andat its sides by the walls of said cup-shaped casing and adapted toreceive the load placed on the axle, and means for keeping thefirstmentioned casing vertical; substantially as set forth.

14,. In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs which are closed at their outerfaces and open at their inner faces to receive the ends of the axle,combined with spring-cushioning means within said hubs for theends ofsaid axle, said means for each wheel comprising a non rotatable casingaround which the wheel may turn and affording a vertical chamber, a parton the axle extended into said chamber, and a coiled spring confined insaid chamber between said part and said casing; substantially as setforth.

15. In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs which are closed at their outerfaces and open at their inner faces to receive the ends of the axle,combined with spring-cushioning means within said hubs for the ends ofsaid axle, said means for each wheel comprising a non rotatable casingaround which the wheel may turn and affording a chamber, aninverted-cup-shaped casing on the end of the axle and disposed withinsaid casing, and acoiled spring confined at its ends between saidcasings and at its sides by said cup-shaped casing; substantially as setforth.

16. In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs which are closed at their outerfaces and open. at their inner faces to receive the ends of the axle,combined with spring-cushioning means within said hubs for the ends ofsaid axle, said means for each Wheel comprising a non rotatable casingaround which the wheel may turn and afiording a chamber into which theaxle projects, and a coiled spring confined within said chamber andreceiving the load placed on the axle; substantially as set forth.

17. In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs which are closed at their outerfaces and open at their inner faces to receive the ends of the axle,combined with spring-cushioning means within said hubs for the ends ofsaid axle, said means for each wheel comprising a non rotatable casingaround which the wheel may turn and affording a chamber into which theaxle projects and which extends above and below the main horizontalplane of the axle, a part on the axle occupying the upper portion ofsaid chamber, and the coiled spring confined within said chamber betweensaid part and said casing and normally extending above and below themain horizontal plane of the axle; substantially as set forth.

18. In a vehicle, the axle supporting the body and having wheels on itsends, said wheels having hollow hubs closed at their outer faces whichthe wheel may rotate, and a coiled spring receiving the end of the axle;substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, this 20th day of December, A. D. 1904.

EDWARD CLIFF.

Witnesses:

CHAS. C. GILL, ARTHUR MARION.

